Bulgur: Another Natural Health, and Weight Loss Food!

by Maria on November 25, 2013

High in dietary fiber,low-fatprotein, vitamins, and minerals, bulgur is an excellent addition to your low-calorie meal plan that offers bulk, and nutrients to fill you up and, therefore, eat less and lose weight.

What is Bulgur?

Bulgur is what’s left after wheat kernels have been steamed, dried, and crushed.

In fact, making wheat into bulgur is an ancient process that originated in the Mediterranean region, and has been an integral part of Middle Eastern cuisine for thousands of years.

Biblical references indicate it was prepared by ancient Babylonians, Hittites and Hebrew populations some 4,000 years ago, and Arab, Israeli, Egyptian, and Roman civilizations record eating dried cooked wheat as early as 1,000 B.C.

So, what are the Health, and Weight Loss Benefits of Bulgur?

It can help keep your digestive tract healthy, and improve your bowel movements. For example, theinsolublefiber it contains absorbs water, thus promoting faster elimination of waste. By doing so, it detoxifies your intestinal tractand, as a result, prevents the formation of an environment that promotes the development of colon cancer.

It is:

Rich in water-soluble dietary fiber, which has the ability to fill you up with fewer calories.

Rich in metabolism-boosting B vitamins that play important roles in cell metabolism, and help reduce your risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and osteoporosis.

A good source of manganese, magnesium, potassium, iron, and phosphorus.

An excellent low-calorie substitute for rice. In fact, a cup of bulgur has fewer calories, less fat, and more dietary fiber than brown rice, oats, buckwheat, or corn.

No chemicals, or additives are used in its processing.

The high low-fat protein content in bulgur allows you to skip high-fat protein sources, like most meats.

You may want to know that this ancient whole grain product is listed as a suggested daily food item on the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid, published in 1994 by Old ways Preservation Trust, the Harvard School of Public Health, and the World Health organization.

Bulgur lends its mildnutty flavor to whatever it is combined with. It is inexpensive and requires minimal cooking.

This natural whole grain is available in three grinds — coarse, medium, and fine.

Stored in a screw-top glass jar in the refrigerator, it will keep for months.

In conclusion: Bulgur is the perfect whole grain for a healthy body, and an ideal component of a natural weight loss diet plan. Win-Win!;-)